By Tom Frary
She has been asked some big questions in a short space of time, but Bill and Tim Gredley's Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) had a resounding answer on Friday as she destroyed her rivals in Newmarket's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S., or Cherry Hinton as it is more widely known. Sent off an insulting 20-1 despite managing to be just over two-lengths fifth in the June 22 G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot only eight days after a winning debut at Yarmouth, the homebred was initially free in the hands of Silvestre De Sousa racing away from the main group. With the Albany first and second Main Edition (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) taking each other on for the lead towards the stand's side, the imposing bay reared at nearby Stetchworth and Middle Park Studs and named after Bill Gredley's daughter Polly (who is married to George Scott) began to take control passing the two-furlong pole. Stretching clear from the Albany fourth Angel's Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), she hit the line with seven lengths to spare as the runner-up put a further six lengths between her and the unexposed Chaleur (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in a performance rarely seen in this race. “I thought she'd come on since Ascot, but I was not expecting that,” trainer Michael Bell said. “She has a fantastic temperament and has some fancy entries and she'll obviously take them up now. The owners wanted to run here–I wanted to go for a listed [Star S.] in two weeks' time, but Bill loves a local runner and he was right. I'll look at the options and discuss her next race with them.”
Pretty Pollyanna, who impressed on her racecourse introduction when upsetting a well-fancied Assembly of Truth (Ire) (Shamardal) at Yarmouth June 14, had to make up ground from behind at the Royal meeting but that outing had the ultimate educative effect if this display is anything to go by. Her rider again demonstrated his uncanny skill with free-going types, as the winner tanked her way through the first period of this race in contrast to last time. Even allowing for the possibility that Main Edition and La Pelosa went off too quick to her right, this was a remarkable effort given that the G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy) run more economically and still failed to land any kind of meaningful blow. “She travelled really well and I couldn't take her back,” De Sousa said. “Maybe when she won it took a bit out of her and she wasn't at her best at Ascot, but she's a lovely filly and I think she'll come on again.”
Michael Bell later added, “There was a little bit of scrimmaging in behind so some might have been closer, but either way it was a good time and she won very easily so you can't be more than very impressed with her. She was impressive at Yarmouth and Ascot last time was a learning curve for her. She has clearly improved a lot from Ascot, but she has only done one piece of easy work. There is a lot to look forward to. She is in the [G2] Lowther [S. at York Aug. 23]. That's a possibility, but she has a penalty for that now. She is in the [G1] Moyglare [Stud S. at The Curragh Sept. 16].” Runner-up Angel's Hideaway interfered with Main Edition and La Pelosa and caused some stacking up behind, which meant that her jockey Frankie Dettori was banned for 10 days and now misses the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and the entire Qatar Goodwood Festival. Her trainer John Gosden said, “She ran very well, but the winner won well.” Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said of Chaleur, “We're very happy. They went a good clip. Once she settled into a bit of a rhythm she was fine and she was really doing her best work at the end. I think we will look at seven-furlong and mile races later on in the year.”
This performance, coming on the back of the maiden wins of the relations Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) and Goddess (Camelot {GB}) in Ireland, suggests 2018 could be a boon year as far as 2-year-old filly talent is concerned. Pretty Pollyanna gallops like a miler, and is also bred like one, with her unraced dam Unex Mona Lisa (GB) (Shamardal) being a half to the nine-furlong GIII Robert J. Frankel S. winner Gender Agenda (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). That smart runner, who was also third in the GII Goldikova S. and fifth in the GI Matriarch S. over eight panels, is a full-sister to Unex El Greco (GB) who won a handicap over a mile and a quarter at this track and was later listed-placed at that trip in Bahrain. The second dam Friendlier (GB) (Zafonic) is a half to the owner-breeder's stand-out runner User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}), the 1992 European Horse of the year courtesy of her trio of victories in the G1 English and Irish Oaks and G1 St Leger. Unex Mona Lisa's yearling colt is by Nathaniel (Ire).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE S. (SPONSORED BY BET365)-G2, £80,000, Newmarket, 7-13, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.51, g/f.
1–PRETTY POLLYANNA (GB), 126, f, 2, by Oasis Dream (GB)">Oasis Dream (GB)
1st Dam: Unex Mona Lisa (GB), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Friendlier (GB), by Zafonic
3rd Dam: Rostova (GB), by Blakeney (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (50,000gns RNA Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-W J & T C O Gredley; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd (GB); T-Michael Bell; J-Silvestre de Sousa. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $68,225. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Angel's Hideaway (Ire), 126, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–The Hermitage (Ire), by Kheleyf. (€390,000 Ylg '17 GOFOR). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-Yeomanstown Stud & Doc Bloodstock (IRE); T-John Gosden. £17,200.
3–Chaleur (GB), 126, f, 2, Dansili (GB)–Lilyfire, by First Defence. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £8,608.
Margins: 7, 6, NK. Odds: 20.00, 6.50, 5.50.
Also Ran: Gossamer Wings, La Pelosa (Ire), Chicas Amigas (Ire), Main Edition (Ire), Come On Leicester (Ire), Alicia Darcy (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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